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Arne Slot has confirmed Mohamed Salah will be absent for Sunday's derby clash with Manchester United, while leaving open the possibility of Alisson's return, describing the goalkeeper's status as "very close."
Liverpool sit comfortably in the Champions League qualification picture, holding an eight-point cushion over sixth place with three matchdays remaining in the 38-game campaign. Nevertheless, any opportunity to get one over on Manchester United is one their Merseyside counterparts seldom let slip.
Jürgen Klopp once likened this storied rivalry to "the salt in the soup." Liverpool will be without their most lethal weapon in this fixture's history, though Salah may not be the only notable absentee, with Alisson's availability still uncertain.
The commanding goalkeeper has been sidelined since mid-March with yet another hamstring complaint. Despite not yet being fully up to speed, Slot struck an upbeat tone regarding his shot-stopper. "Ali has not trained with us yet. He is very close to training with us," the Dutch manager disclosed.
"I have to hear today from the medical staff if he is able to train with us today, tomorrow or the start of next week. He's very close."
Slot did add a note of caution: "We never want to take a risk with a player." Several other prominent squad members are also certain to sit out this weekend's fixture.
Giorgi Mamardashvili
Concerns over Alisson's fitness have been further complicated by the knee injury Giorgi Mamardashvili picked up against Everton earlier this month. The significant cut the Georgian suffered while conceding a goal is expected to keep him out until at least the following weekend.
Should Alisson remain sidelined, third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman would be called upon for another outing at Old Trafford. Given his solid performance against Crystal Palace last weekend, that prospect may not be as daunting as it sounds.
Mohamed Salah
"We expect him to be back for the final stretch of the season," Slot confirmed following news of Salah's latest injury update, "but not for Sunday."
The fact that the Egyptian King is set to return at all is a significant relief, given he was initially feared to miss a full month after sustaining a hamstring problem against Palace.
"In all ways it is a big relief that his injury is minor so he is able to play for us and at the World Cup," Slot remarked. "If ever there was a player that deserves a big sendoff, it is definitely Mo."
Wataru Endo
Early in April, Wataru Endō effectively drew a premature curtain on his season. "The ligament is completely gone," he grimly revealed when speaking about the alarming extent of his ankle injury.
However, Slot has since offered encouraging words about a potential late-season return for the Japan international, who has a crucial World Cup on the horizon. "We are hoping for him to be back at the end of the season," the Liverpool manager said.
Giovanni Leoni
Talk about bad luck. Giovanni Leoni's Liverpool career had barely reached the 80-minute mark before it was abruptly halted back in September. As it turned out, Leoni's ACL tear would set the tone for a season plagued by injuries across Merseyside.
Leoni's season ended on that autumn evening against Southampton, and it remains unclear when he will next step onto the pitch. There is optimism that his recovery could align with the start of the 2026–27 season, though Slot will not be rushing the unfortunate 19-year-old back.
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitiké heard the snap the moment he hit the turf. One unfortunate misstep against Paris Saint-Germain brought his season — and his World Cup hopes — to a sudden and devastating end.
The rough timeline for the injured French striker points to sometime in 2027, though Slot was reluctant to speculate. "Experts will tell you this will take multiple months, and then it depends on the steps," the Dutch boss reflected shortly after the injury occurred in April. "We don't know yet, but the first and most important step is that the surgery went well."
Conor Bradley
Conor Bradley's unfortunate fall against Arsenal in January — not helped by a shove from Gabriel Martinelli — resulted in significant knee damage. The Northern Ireland skipper was fortunate to escape an ACL tear, but still left the field with bone and ligament problems.
Liverpool have declined to put a timeframe on his recovery. Optimistic projections have suggested a return as early as next autumn.